St. Paul daily globe., 1887-07-31
A PLUCKY IMMIGRANT.
Courageous Struggle of a Stranger
to Reach the Golden State-A
Tramp Across the Desert.

to Reach the Golden State-A
Tramp Across the Desert.
San Francisco Examiner.
Some of the efforts made by newcOm-
ers from the East to get a foothold in
California are numerous, while others
are so heroic as to gain admiration
wherever known. While the flood of
immigration pouring into the Golden
state attracts the attention OF the old
settlers in the aggregate, few have the
opportunity of noting the struggle of in
dividuals, and thus the public does not
appreciate their heroic efforts.
Last evening a reporter of the Exam
liner was walking along the wharyeS,
when his attention was called to a badly
dilapidated specimen of humanity,
whose clothes were those of a tramp in
exceeding bad luck, but whose face
beamed with intelligence. The combi-
nation was impressive in the extreme,
and in the conversation which enSued,
the particulars of this article were
CLEANED.
James Gleason, aged twenty-five
years, resided with his parents on a
farm near Ellington, Chautauqua
county, n. Y, but becoming tired of
the mOnOtOny of his life, decided to
come West. For this purpose he was
given money by his father, and after a
tedious trip he landed in Tucson, Ariz.,
having S25 of his money remaining. He
had never learned a trade, and found it
very difficult to get employment in the
territory.
His struggles lasted for some three
months in that city, the young man
earning an occasional dollar at odd
work, but meanwhile his scanty funds
had been sinking, and he could see
nothing but eventual starvation by re-
manning, while there was hope for him,
he thought, on this side OF the Colorado
desert.
He had 50 of his money remaining,
but between Tucson and Los Angeles
was a wide stretch of 500 miles, mostly
desert, and with the exception of sec
ton hands along the railroad, perfectly
innocent of population.
By paying So to the brakemen he man
aged to ride upon freight trains as far
as Texas Hill, siXty-twO miles east of
Yuma. where he was discovered by the
conductor and forced from the train.
There his luck deserted him. ADan-
dOned in the desert, almost without
money, wholly inexperienced in the
knowledge of beating trains, and with
out the disposition to do so, there was
nothing to do but walk the remaining
500 miles through to the City of the
Angels.
Taking a couple of wine bottles from
the side of the railroad he filled them
with water, tied them together, hung
them over his shoulder and started on
his long tramp for civilization. At the
end of his second day he landed in
Yuma, already footsore and weary.
Here another effort was made to find
work, but without success. After two
dayS' rest he started once more, and
now upon a more barren desert than he
had dreamed existed in the world. 1t
was terrible undertaking, but behind
was starvation, ahead was life and pos
Sible success.
He could not walk in the daytime, so
intense was the heat. He trudged on
his way all night long, night after night,
|. and as his feet grew sore and his bones
4 weary, he staggered like drunken
/ man.
When day came, with its blistering
sunshine, he would seek the welcome
shade of handcar house, wrap his
shoes in his coat for pillow and be-
tween the biting of the huge flies which
Finfest that country, get what rest was
1t was desert everywhere. The white
sand drifted in huge piles like snow,
and over the lands swept the hot winds,
clustering and scorching all it touched,
and in the shade the thermometer reg
istered from 110o to 1879.
At last there came day when life
and death hung evenly in ihe balance.
5 Young Gleason had started for walk
from one section house to another rather
late for such trip in such climate.
This distance was eight miles.
1t was almost 10 o'clock when he
neared the station, and seeing the build
ing so close, he raised the bottle to his
lips and moistened them with his last
drop of water. There was plenty more
to be had in only few moments walk!
But horror! AS he drew near he saw
too plainly evidences of deSertiOn.
He gaZed into the cistern, but no water
was there.
It was a life and death struggle. Eight
miles more to walk with the very heat
of a burning furnace pouring down
upon his head.
He started on, but every step forward
cost struggle. His lips broke open and
the blood OOZed out. His tongue was SO
swollen he could hardly breathe.
For moment he sat down on the ties,
but he realized that a stupOr was coming
OH him.
Life! 1t was precious word, and he